Tourists in Indonesia to Be Charged with Waste Management Tax

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the government was formulating a tax that would be imposed on tourists visiting holiday spots across Indonesia. 

The government explained the additional tax earnings would be used to fund waste management programs in tourist attractions by local administrations. “We are designing the tax,” Luhut confirmed today at his office. 

The plan is that tourists will be indirectly charged with the tax that is already included in entrance fees at tourist spots. Based on initial planning, foreign tourists will be charged USD10 while domestic ones will be charged an additional USD1. 

“However, we are still studying the regulation to prevent it from violating any existing rules,” Luhut explained. 

Read: 10 Tons of Waste from Jakarta Rivers Piles Up on Pari Island 

The planned tax came as the government's latest attempt to deal with waste at tourist spots—an issue that has become increasingly serious.  

A recent fact surprisingly saw 10 cubic meters of organic waste (10 tons) filled Pari Island’s beach at the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu) regency before it was completely cleaned in 2.5 hours.

Luhut said this regulation was hoped to initiate a drastic change in waste management along tourist spots across Indonesia, especially the country's beaches. 

JULNIS FIRMANSYAH